AVP, US State Policy and Government Affairs

Scorpion Therapeutics; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics seeks a strategic leader to direct U.S. state policy for the company and the biopharmaceutical industry in Washington, DC. The role oversees policy, lobbying, and alliance development across states, engaging with executives and cross-functional teams.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in state government affairs, deep biopharma policy knowledge, and proven leadership. Strong ethics and communication skills are required to navigate fast-moving policy environments.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in state government affairs and policy.
• Extensive biopharmaceutical policy knowledge; experience leading proactive state initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder engagement; proven leadership in matrixed organizations.
• Exceptional written/verbal communication for executive briefing and messaging.
• Ability to navigate complex, fast-moving policy environments; strong ethics, professionalism, and political judgment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the U.S. strategy for state policy issues affecting the company and the biopharmaceutical industry.
• Direct the team’s strategy and execution on state legislative and policy issues; oversee executive directors for lobbying, policy, and alliance development.
• Identify, analyze, and develop the company’s response to public policy issues affecting strategic business priorities.
• Lead department operations, budget planning, long-range planning, and resource management.
• Partner with U.S. Federal Public Policy & Government Affairs and Global Policy teams; align priorities with therapeutic franchise and subject matter experts.
• Brief, advise, and support executive leadership on external policy engagements.
• Ensure state advocacy aligns with company positions and develop new policies with leadership and stakeholders.
• Represent the company with trade/business/advocacy organizations and alliance boards/working groups.
• Ensure state advocacy complies with company policy and applicable state and federal laws.
• Support team development and manage external consultants/projects.

Skills

State policy

Biopharma policy

Stakeholder engagement

Executive briefing

Ethics & professionalism

Education

BA/BS

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy and policy leadership: Lead the U.S. strategy for key state policy issues affecting the company and the biopharmaceutical industry.
• Team leadership and execution: Direct the team’s strategy and execution on state legislative and policy issues; oversee executive directors for lobbying, policy, and alliance development.
• Issue analysis and response: Identify, analyze, and develop the company’s response to public policy issues affecting strategic business priorities.
• Operations and resource management: Lead department operations, budget planning, long-range planning, and resource management.
• Cross-functional partnership: Partner with U.S. Federal Public Policy & Government Affairs and Global Policy teams; align priorities with therapeutic franchise and subject matter experts.
• Executive counsel and stakeholder engagement: Brief, advise, and support executive leadership on external policy engagements.
• Policy alignment and advocacy: Ensure state advocacy aligns with company positions and develop new policies with leadership and stakeholders.
• External representation: Represent the company with trade/business/advocacy organizations and alliance boards/working groups.
• Compliance oversight: Ensure state advocacy complies with company policy and applicable state and federal laws.
• People development and vendor management: Support team development and manage external consultants/projects.

Education

• Required: BA/BS

Required Experience and Skills

• At least 15 years in state government affairs and policy.
• Extensive biopharmaceutical policy knowledge; experience leading proactive state initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder engagement; proven leadership in matrixed organizations.
• Exceptional written/verbal communication for executive briefing and messaging.
• Ability to navigate complex, fast-moving policy environments; strong ethics, professionalism, and political judgment.